Friday April 10, 2020

I like a little morning fog. Not the dense fog where you can’t see 3 feet in front of you. A light layer that just makes the morning feel mystical. It creates an unusual mood and for whatever reason it also seems to keep fair weather walkers at bay. Again, I’m not anti-social. Far from it. I just really like starting the day with a little tranquility. Walking for exercise provides a whole host of physical health benefits but it is also great for your mental health. Giving your mind a chance to just slow down and be present. Often this is not the case. Most of us spend our days and nights juggling the many facets of our professional and personal lives. Looking ahead and planning or addressing all the tasks we need or think we need to do. Taking a walk/hike is a great opportunity to give it a rest and just be.

One of the ways I force myself to be present during my walks is by taking photographs of things that interest me. Natural or human-made, it doesn’t matter. While afoot the world just looks different. I notice things that I often miss when traveling by car or other modes of transportation. We are surrounded by beauty. Natural beauty provided by Mother Nature but also human-made beauty. Both can be found when hiking trails and walking city streets. One just needs to take the time to look. #iluvtowalk #walkingmakesmehappy #baxteronthego